Deck Cleat ripped out.

[JVanselow]

Hello,
I have an 1975 O'day 20. Over the Memorial Day weekend the big boat wakes coming into the dock where my boat is tied up to ripped out my portside bow cleat from the fiberglass. There was no backing plate under the fiberglass on this cleat. To repair this i am going to try to fashion a backing plate but there is little room to even fit one in. The only other thing i can think of are oversized washers on thru bolts. Should i use Epoxy first to repair part of deck where the cleat was ripped out or should i use gelcoat and drill new holes?
As i was down below in the cabin looking at the underside of the cleats, i noticed that the only deck hardware that has backing plates were the bow pulpit and eyebolt on bow for towing. Don't know why?? I should probably take the time to put backing plates on all the cleats as this is an old boat. But for now i just want to fix the cleat that was ripped out.
Any advice or pointers on the repair of this would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jay

 

[Golden Road]

Hello,
I have an 1975 O'day 20. Over the Memorial Day weekend the big boat wakes coming into the dock where my boat is tied up to ripped out my portside bow cleat from the fiberglass. There was no backing plate under the fiberglass on this cleat. To repair this i am going to try to fashion a backing plate but there is little room to even fit one in. The only other thing i can think of are oversized washers on thru bolts. Should i use Epoxy first to repair part of deck where the cleat was ripped out or should i use gelcoat and drill new holes?
As i was down below in the cabin looking at the underside of the cleats, i noticed that the only deck hardware that has backing plates were the bow pulpit and eyebolt on bow for towing. Don't know why?? I should probably take the time to put backing plates on all the cleats as this is an old boat. But for now i just want to fix the cleat that was ripped out.
Any advice or pointers on the repair of this would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jay

You'll need to make backing plate somehow. And build up a new laminate which will be stronger than original. Can you get acess underneath?

 

[JVanselow]

I can get access underneath but there is little room to mount backing plate, due to how the fiberglass is molded. If i am able to mount one, it wont have much surface area. The hole that the cleat ripped out isn't that large though. Should i use epoxy to fill it in then drill new holes. Then mount cleat with either backing plate/epoxy or just use oversize washers if the backing plate won't fit. Should i prep surface first with sandpaper or clean it? Never done this before so just want to make it simple as possible.

 

[Shoaldrafter]

I can get access underneath but there is little room to mount backing plate, due to how the fiberglass is molded. If i am able to mount one, it wont have much surface area. The hole that the cleat ripped out isn't that large though. Should i use epoxy to fill it in then drill new holes. Then mount cleat with either backing plate/epoxy or just use oversize washers if the backing plate won't fit. Should i prep surface first with sandpaper or clean it? Never done this before so just want to make it simple as possible.

I recommend epoxying the cleat back in using the original fiberglass pieces. Get some longer screws and some fiberglass. Wet out area behind the place where it pulled out. Put up layer of glass mat with two holes for cleat screws. Make a piece of plywood with two holes and coat with epoxy and then put all this together with screws holding board up to wetted glass mat and let cure.

Ed K

 

[DeniseO30]

Boat operators are responsible for damage caused by their wake. try and catch em though that's rude as hell to come in "hot" especially when boats are tied to a dock. Any chance you know the boat that caused the damage?

 

[JVanselow]

Wasn't there to actually see the boat wake that did it. I have an end tie up slip on the dock so my boat is more susceptible to wakes/waves coming in. I have since run some spring lines fore and aft which i should have done in the first place. Thank you all for your advice. Last night i went out and bought cloth, resin, epoxy, marine grade 1X for backing plate and thru bolts. As long as i can get an extra set of hands to help it shouldn't be too hard of a fix. -Jay

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Wasn't there to actually see the boat wake that did it. I have an end tie up slip on the dock so my boat is more susceptible to wakes/waves coming in. I have since run some spring lines fore and aft which i should have done in the first place. Thank you all for your advice. Last night i went out and bought cloth, resin, epoxy, marine grade 1X for backing plate and thru bolts. As long as i can get an extra set of hands to help it shouldn't be too hard of a fix. -Jay

Jay,

The thru bolts thru the plywood are the "extra set of hands to help" . Initially all you need is finger tight to hold stuff in place while it cures. After it cures you tighten...

Ed K